Archive for the ‘OpenAthens’ Category

Don’t forget, the OpenAthens button on the library webpages will be removed at the end of this month, i.e. this Thursday. It’s Halloween, so there’s no reason to forget! Speaking of which, check out our Halloween-themed display in the library Welcome Zone, if you dare (evil cackling scary laugh…!)!

Those of you who are used to accessing our electronic resources will be aware that it has not been necessary to login to OpenAthens to access resources for quite some time. The button for OpenAthens on the right-hand side of the library website (under quick links) is now redundant, and will be disappearing at the end of this month. But do not worry! You will still be able to access electronic resources by going to either the A to Z list of resources or the Resources by Subject pages, where you will find instructions on how to access each of our resources.

If you have any queries about accessing resources, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the the Subject Help Desk.

The sun is shining; spring is clearly in the air. So it’s time to start thinking about some developments in the way in which we access electronic resources that will hopefully make things easier.

Those who are familiar with our “Spotlight on…” series may have noticed that the recent display centres around accessing electronic resources, and the fact that you no longer need to login to OpenAthens before accessing an electronic resource. Instead of logging in before you try to access any resource, in order to access electronic resources, all you now have to do is go to the link for the required resource on either the subject page or the A to Z of electronic resources, click on the link and enter your Bolton network ID and password if prompted to do so. It’s that simple! Over the coming few months, the blue button currently used to access the OpenAthens login will be disappearing, but we will issue plenty of reminders, so hopefully it won’t come as too much of a shock. We’re always here to help if you are having any difficulties access electronic resources; just visit the Subject Help Desk or e-mail a librarian at SubjectHelp@bolton.ac.uk.

Go on, I know you’re thinking it: why are they changing things again?! A very good question. So, why are we changing things? The answer is simple: we want to ensure that your experience of accessing electronic resources – and the information you need to undertake your research – is as easy as possible. And while it may not seem like it sometimes, changing the way we access electronic resources is part of this process. Changing the way we do things is seldom without issue, and there are a number of issues we currently have with logging into resources: some of our links on the library catalogue in particular are incorrect, and a number of resources are not working as they should be. We’re working on these and we’re getting there.

Accessing electronic resources has become one of my professional bugbears (is there such a thing?). All I want our users to be able to do is click on a link, access an electronic resources, and get on with it. This should be easy, and, happily, most of the time it is. Even when a little extra help (or clicks) are needed, most of the time we get to where we want to be. But there are times when things don’t work, and even getting to that point requires many, many extra clicks: I appreciate that sometimes it may feel like you’re going round and round the houses for no gain. Very frustrating. The good news is that I’m not the only one who has made it something of a mission in life to improve access to electronic resources and suppliers are listening.

Keep a look out for further information about changes to logging into electronic resources. Here’s hoping that 2013 will be the year of the seamless resource access!

It would seem that we are having issues accessing electronic resources using Safari as a browser. It may be necessary to use the workaround that has been in place for logging into OpenAthens using Internet Explorer 9. Instructions on how to do this are available here.

We appear to be having a few problems with Internet Explorer (IE9) and OpenAthens. You may find that some resources cannot be access via OpenAthens if you are using a PC with IE9. The problem is being looked at, and we hope that it will be resolved as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are a number of steps to follow that will mean you can still access electronic resources using OpenAthens

This example is MyiLibrary – other resources look slightly different but the principles are the same:

1. Click Alternative login:

2. You can enter Bolton in the search box or expand the Universities link further down this list:

3. Note that the University of Bolton is listed under T and not U! Click on the first of the University of Bolton links:

4. Click on “Go to The University of Bolton – TEST login page”

5. The new login boxes will appear at this point. Login as usual (i.e. with your Bolton network ID and password) and you will be taken to the resource. Note that a page that says ‘A session already exists’ often comes up after logging in. If so, try refreshing the page, or failing that, you may need to go back and login to the resource again.

There is a major problem with OpenAthens this morning, which means that no resources are available via off-campus, and many on-campus are also not available. We are looking in this problem and are hoping it will be resolved quickly, apologies for any inconvenience.

Due to an essential upgrade to OpenAthens – the mechanism by which electronic resources are accessed – electronic resources will unavailable both on and off-campus on Tuesday 16th August. This upgrade is necessary to ultimately improve the way in which we login to resources. A small number of resources, those which use IP address recognition only, may be available on-campus only.

Apologies for the inconvenience; normal service will be resumed on Wednesday 17th August.

Over the next few weeks, the way we login to electronic resources is going to be changing. For some resources, when you are on-campus, you will no longer need to login using your Bolton network ID and password. Off-campus, you will still need to login using your Bolton network ID and password, but you will no longer have to login to OpenAthens before accessing any electronic resource. Instead, all you will need to do is follow the links to the electronic resource you wish to use and when prompted to do so, enter your Bolton network ID and password.

Look out for updated versions of workbooks and crib sheets throughout the new term, and if you have any problems accessing resources, don’t hesitate to contact the Information Desk, or for help with using resources, contact your Subject Librarian.

More information on the changes to logging in will be made available via this blog as well as via the news sections on the Library website.